Tragedy of 25-day-old baby who died after mother fell asleep while holding her in bed

ALASTAIR ULKE

A coroner has warned parents against holding newborn infants in bed following the tragic and accidental death of a child.

A baby girl died in her mother’s arms aged just 25-days-old after they fell asleep together while sat up in bed.

Because of the sensitivity of this accident, we chose not to identify the family affected.

HM Coroner Anne Pember said at the baby’s inquest in neighbouring Northamptonshire: “This is a very sad and untimely death, and the mother had no intention of falling asleep.

“The public must know about the dangers of holding babies in this way.”

Following an emergency cesarian, the mother, gave birth to a baby girl in June 2016, weighing 8lbs 7oz.

Her mother, in a statement read out by the coroner at the inquest, said: “When I was younger, I was told I would not be able to have children. My partner and I were so surprised when we were told I was pregnant.

“She was such a good baby girl, who slept and fed well. She was a lazy baby and I would have to wake her up just to feed her. “She loved sitting in her beanbag. She was a real daddy’s girl.”

In the days before her death, the little girl became “whingy and clingy”, and would cry whenever she was put down, the inquest heard. She slept in a cot next to her parents’ bed. Then one night in July 2016, she woke her parents up three times for feeding.

Her mother said: “At around 3.30am, I carried her to bed with me. I sat up and held her in my arms while I fed her. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

When the mother woke up, it was 7.15am.

The mother said: “She was lying on the mattress next to my hip. She wasn’t breathing.

“I woke my partner and he called 999. I don’t remember much of what happened after that.”

A paramedic arrived within minutes but saw that the girl had died some time ago. HM Coroner Anne Pember said: “She was found lying on her front on the mattress. A post-mortem found evidence that her airway had been blocked.

“This was an accidental death and the mother had no intention of falling asleep. Very often, parents will carry their newborn babies to bed with no consequences, but the public must know about the dangers of holding babies in this way.”